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(UK) Lincs: Autistic 14yo out of school for a year; "mainstream school was unable to cope"

Feb 4, 2025, Lincolnshire Live: Mum says daughter is 'slipping through the cracks' because she's been out of school for a year

A 14-year-old girl with special needs has been out of education for more than a year after ‘slipping through the cracks’. Rebecca Marks says her daughter Lillie, who has autism and ADHD, has effectively been forgotten for the last 15 months by the special needs system.


Lillie's previous mainstream school was unable to cope and she started in a Lincolnshire school in September 2023 with an EHCP (education, health and care plan, which outlines her needs and required support).


However, this only lasted a matter of months, and, despite Lincolnshire County Council saying it’s working hard to find a suitable school, she has been without one ever since.


Rebecca, who lives in Langrick near Boston, said: “She began having panic attacks and locking herself in the toilet, and the school would ring me to pick her up.


“She was suspended twice, and eventually the school said they couldn’t cope. She was supposed to have some kind of education at home, but that never happened. She was eventually taken off the roll.”


Rebecca says Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) staff at the council promised she would be able to go to The Pilgrim School in Boston, which provides specialist support. However, she has now been told this may not be happening.


Attending a special school requires evidence of Lillie's needs, which her mum says hasn’t been collected due to her long absence from school. She’s frustrated with Lincolnshire County Council’s handling of the situation. . . .


“I can’t work as I have a child at home 24/7, and we have the extra cost of heating the house all day.” Katie Marsden, Head of Service for special educational needs and disabilities, said: “The council is working hard to find an appropriate school for Lillie to attend.


“We have offered online learning as an interim arrangement, but the family felt this was unsuitable. We understand that the family would prefer Lillie to attend the Pilgrim School, but for this they would require a referral from a mainstream school.


“We are continuing to work with the school currently named in Lillie’s education, health and care plan, and other professionals, to ensure that Lillie’s needs are being supported.” 



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